The GRT Impact KTM team headed over to Oxfordshire to Culham MX Park for the first round of the REVO ACU British Motocross Championship of the 2022 season. We were out in numbers this weekend as we featured seven out of eight of our GRT backed riders, from 65cc all the way up to Pro MX2.
Starting off Saturday’s racing with our youth riders, three of which were British Championship debutants to the GRT team for this year (Elliot Shawyer, Billy askew & Joe Brookes), we saw our 65 riders tackle the track early, trying to find their feet in the class.
Elliot Shawyer took to the stage for the first time under the GRT tent in a full 65cc class, amongst the best youth talent in the country. Elliot managed to race amongst the pack, and despite struggling with his starts, finished with a 28-23-25 scorecard. His first ever British Championship race!
Our other 65cc rider, Teddy Merriman, showed the improvements he has made this year with a 10th place in qualifying. Unfortunately a DNF in race one due to a bike issue stopped him from getting a better finish. However he still fought well in race two and three with a 17th and a 14th respectively, improving each race.
Next up was Billy Askew in the Big Wheel 85cc class, another debut for him in GRT colours. After posting the second best time in qualifying, Billy was full of confidence going into the races. He ran a great pace throughout the weekend, securing himself a 1st overall, and a perfect 1-1-1 scorecard. He takes the Championship lead going into round two.
Our 125cc riders, Ollie Colmer and newcomer Joe Brookes, raced a very tightly contested and perhaps most anticipated class in the British Youth series. They started the weekend with a 2nd and 3rd place in qualifying, setting up nicely for the races. Both riders raced incredibly well, with Ollie finishing 2nd overall with a 2-2-3-2 scorecard for the weekend. Joe was nursing an existing injury from a crash at the previous EMX round, however still managed a top 10 overall, as well as two top 5 finishes to gain valuable points for his Championship quest.
Finley Evans moved up to the 250 Youth class this weekend, leapfrogging the 125 class after racing the Big Wheel 85’s in 2021. He was very impressive all weekend, all but for an early crash in race three, which hindered his chance of a podium on his 250 debut. A respectable 2-2-15-4 scorecard gave him 4th overall, and even more confidence going into the next round.
Finally, another debut for Pro MX2 rider Jamie Carpenter, in GRT colours. Jamie had a quiet qualifying, securing himself 12th gate pick for the races. The work that Jamie has put in over the off season was shown off in race one, after an opening lap crash forced Jamie to come from 37th position back to a hard fought 15th place in a highly competitive class. He turned around his early misfortune in race two with a top 10 start, and finally making his way into 4th place at the finish. A very strong way to end the weekend, and takes home 6th overall.
Next week we head to FatCat Motoparc in Doncaster, for the opening round of the MX Nationals series.
